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Topic: The story of Padmapada (Read 3759 times)

Padmapada is one of Sri Sankara's four first disciples. He wasfrom a family of worshippers of Ranganatha of Sri Rangam. [Therewas no concept of Sri Vaishnavism during Sankara's times. SriRamanuja came 600 years later. There were only Siva worshippersand Vishnu worshippers. Padmapada has written a number of original Advaitic granthas and also commentaries for Sri Sankara'sworks. He was a little arrogant about his learning, though hewas also self realized. Sri Sankara wanted to put him to test.

Padmapada went to Sri Rangam, to stay with his maternal unclefor sometime. He showed his uncle the advaita granthas. Somehowthe uncle did not like Padmapada and his erudition. When Padmapada was away for some work outside the town, the jealous uncle burntthe house with all the granthas. Padmapada returned home and the uncle wept artificially for the loss of the granthas. Padmapadathen told his uncle: "Uncle, do not worry. All these are in mymind. I can re-write them all in a few days." The uncle wasagain disturbed. He gave him then the juice of unmatha flowers alongwith his food and Padmapada became totally mad! He was laughing,crying, dancing, moving his limbs here and there in epilepsy. Somehow he managed to go to Sri Sankara who was then probablystaying in Sringeri or Kanchipuram and amidst his madness, he toldSri Sankara about his loss of mental balance as also the loss ofgranthas. Sri Sankara said: "Do not worry. Even in the state of madness, only your brain is affected, your mind is safe with theSelf within the Heart. The Self Realization is in no way disturbedby the brain problems.

He then placed his hands on Sri Padmapada's head and curedhis madness. Sri Padmapada then rewrote all the granthas underSri Sankara's further guidance. The state of Self Realization ifpermanent, does not get affected by the madness that is due tothe brain dysfunction. Many devotees have behaved in a weird manner in their state of self realization. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,and Sri Ramakrishna [to some extent] and Sri Seshadri Swamigal,[perhaps as a cover to ward off devotees] are the classic examples! This madness (from the point of view of others) is also called, on some occasions, as Mahabhava!